INSIDE EDITION EXCLUSIVE:

‘MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON’ SURVIVORS REUNITE

& VISIT THE U.S. AIRWAYS JETLINER THEY WERE FLYING IN ON THAT FATEFUL DAY

Airing Friday, September 9^th   

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New York, NY — September 9, 2016 – INSIDE EDITION brings together 35 survivors of the heroic event remembered as ‘Miracle on the Hudson,’ which has been adapted into Clint Eastwood’s highly anticipated film, “Sully,” that brings to life the brave action of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.

In January 2009, six minutes after takeoff, a flock of geese knocked out both plane engines of a U.S. Airways jetliner. Captain Chesley “Sully Sullenberger,” played by Tom Hanks in the film, decided to attempt a risky water landing on New York City’s Hudson River. He glided the crippled airliner down and executed a perfect landing.

Now, INSIDE EDITION reunites 35 passengers taking them to Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte where the actual jetliner they were flying in on that extraordinary day is on display. By a show of hands, they all were looking forward to seeing Clint Eastwood’s highly anticipated film, “Sully.”

One survivor, Michele Weinager, remembers that after the landing the plane began filling with the freezing river water. She tells INSIDE EDITION that she thought, “We just survived a plane crash and now we’re going to drown.”

Another survivor, Doug Schrift, adds, “We were in back of the plane. We were drowning. There was chaos and panic going on in the back of the plane.” Schrift tells INSIDE EDITION that he was holding the door open, per the flight attendant’s directions, when he spotted Captain Sullenberger. “I saw Sullenberger standing back, very calm. He has his hat on. You can see him looking to see that everyone gets off okay.”

Brad Wentzell shows INSIDE EDITION how he jumped in the life rafts, which they had to hastily inflate, followed by other passengers still in shock. He snapped cell phone photos as rescue vessels arrived.

INSIDE EDITION also meets some of the children of the ‘Miracle on the Hudson,’ who would have grown up without their mothers or fathers, had it not been for Captain Sully’s heroism. One child said, “He saved my mommy’s life.”

For INSIDE EDITION’s full report, tune in on Friday, September 9. Check local listings for stations and times at www.insideedition.com.

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